November 14, 2014 at
11:15 PM

The Red Sox have made a pair of front office moves. Amiel Sawdaye, the team's Director of Amateur Scouting since the 2010 season, has been promoted to team Vice President. Mike Rikard, who most recently served as National Scouting Coordinator, will take over as the Amateur Scouting Director.

In 2012, Rikard was identified by Baseball America as one of 10 Future Scouting Directors. He joined Boston's scouting department in 2004 as east coast crosschecker after four years as a scout in the Padres organization. He moved up to national crosschecker in 2010 before taking over as scouting coordinator in December 2012. A former college shortstop at UNC Greensboro, Rikard was an assistant coach both Wake Forest and Elon before moving to the professional ranks. He also had some experience in the New England baseball community before joining the Red Sox, serving as manager of the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League in 1999 and 2000.
Sawdaye spent five seasons as Director of Amateur Scouting, overseeing the acquisition of talent into a farm system that was ranked the second-best in baseball heading into the 2014 season. His successes include the well-regarded 2011 draft, which netted the team its current top two prospects in Blake Swihart and Henry Owens, along with Matt Barnes, Jackie Bradley, Jr., and Mookie Betts. SoxProspects.com interviewed Sawdaye in 2010 and 2011, gaining insight into the Red Sox approach to the drafting and development process.

More front office moves are likely this offseason. Boston lost director of player personnel Dave Finley and special assignment scout Galen Carr to the Los Angeles Dodgers, scout Dave Keller to the Marlins organization, and scout Tom Battista to the Atlanta Braves. Continue to check SoxProspects.com all offseason for news in the player development department.